Write a will for peace of mind
It’s never too soon to make a Will. If 2020 has taught us anything it is that the future is unpredictable. Making a Will, whatever your age, will give you peace of mind that if the worst happens the people you love will be taken care of in line with your wishes.
Many people assume that this will happen anyway. But every family situation is different, and this can have serious implications for how your estate and children are dealt with after your death.
Contact me today about making a Will.
What is a Will?
A Will sets out who you want to leave your assets to, who will be the guardians of your young children, and the friends or charities to which you want to leave a gift.
What happens if you don’t make a Will?
If you don’t have a Will at the time you pass away things can be much more painful for the family you leave behind. You may leave them with financial hardship and unnecessary expense at the very worst time, when they are grieving. This could continue for several months or years while your estate is dealt with.
Who inherits when you die without a Will?
Intestacy rules, which come into play if you die without a Will, determine who receives anything from the estate you leave behind.
Your spouse may not receive everything and the charities you support, friends, unmarried partners and stepchildren, are not entitled to receive anything.
Also, without a Will in place, a bank or solicitor may be appointed to deal with your estate and may therefore become one of your major beneficiaries due to their legal fees.
Contact me to make a Will to ensure your loved ones are looked after.
What happens to your children when there is no Will?
Critically for parents with children under the age of 18, if you don’t make a Will, then you will have no control over who looks after them should something happen to you and your partner.
In these circumstances, the courts will appoint someone on your behalf – someone that you may not have chosen – or your children may go into care.
Contact me today to make a Will in the best interests of your children.
Inheritance Tax
Making a Will is a way of minimising Inheritance Tax, which is 40% if your estate is worth over £325,000 or £650,000 for married couples.
Carefully planning how you distribute your assets allows you to minimise this tax or even eliminate it altogether.
Contact me to make a tax efficient Will.
Avoid dispute
Writing a Will means your family will have your wishes in black and white, minimising the additional pain a dispute can create following your death.
Keeping your Will up to date as changes happen in your life is also important. For example, getting married revokes an existing Will, but divorce does not. This could mean children from previous marriages may not inherit anything, but a divorced partner will.
It’s also important to update your will to include the birth of children or grandchildren, so they can also receive money for their future.
Contact me to discuss making a Will to avoid dispute.
Let me help you write a Will
I can help you make a Will to ensure:
- You can appoint people you trust as the guardians of your children aged under 18 years old
- You can appoint trusted people as executors to sort out your estate after you die
- Your money and personal gifts go to the people you want to receive it
- You can minimise inheritance tax
- Set-up trusts to protect your assets and your bloodline
- Make gifts to charity or friends
- You can avoid potential additional stress for your family when there isn’t a Will in place.
I can help you write a Will that will meet your specific wishes and give you peace of mind for as little as £150. This can be done in person or virtually.
Contact me today to start marking a Will.
I have been a member of the Institute of Professional Willwriters since January 2005. This means I work to a rigorous Code of Practice, so you have recourse if you are not totally satisfied with my advice.
However, I know you will be. But don’t take my word for it. Read these testimonials from my customers.
I also arrange Lasting Power of Attorney
I can also help you make a Lasting Power of Attorney to give someone you trust the authority to make health and financial decisions on your behalf if you lose mental capacity later in life.
Without a Lasting Power of Attorney in place, your finances can be frozen for over a year while your next of kin apply to deal with them through the Court of Protection
If you’ve questions about my services or making a Will please take a look at my Frequently Asked Questions or get in touch.